QTS (Quality Technology Services), one of the nation’s largest and fastest-growing providers of data center facilities and cloud services, today announced the completion of a major security infrastructure installation at its 1.3 million square foot Richmond Data Center.

The new security features include a 500-foot setback and an energized fence surrounding the perimeter of the campus. All vehicle access is controlled by K-12 rated Delta Scientific wedge barriers and a truck inspection station. Guests entering the data center grounds are processed through a 24/7 secured screening facility which includes armed personnel, a magnetometer and an x-ray screening machine. Each entrance is rated National Institute of Justice (NIJ) Ballistic Level 3.

The new facility infrastructure meets all Department of Defense anti-terrorism force protection requirements. As visitors and employees move throughout the data center, they are constantly monitored by extensive electronic surveillance and around-the-clock armed guard patrols. In addition, customer suites are protected by biometric authorization, including both iris and fingerprint scanners.

The overarching guiding focus during the development of the new security infrastructure was on meeting all Department of Defense anti-terrorism force protection requirements and attaining compliance with both the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA)-942 guidelines and the Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA).

“I recently had the privilege of touring QTS’ Richmond Data Center and seeing the company’s innovative and comprehensive security checkpoints and controls first-hand,” said United States Senator Mark Warner (D-VA). “As the threat of cyber terrorism grows, our nation must proactively secure our information technology infrastructure. I’m pleased that one of Virginia’s leading-edge businesses, QTS, is taking a leadership role within the data center industry to protect both classified and unclassified mission critical data.”

QTS’ Richmond Data Center opened in January 2011, and is one of the world’s largest data center campuses. The site is comprised of four distinct data center buildings featuring the availability of 500,000 square feet of raised floor space and over 100 megawatts of supplied power from a dedicated diverse feed on-site substation. Located less than 100 miles from Washington, D.C., the facility is well positioned to meet the federal government’s cloud, colocation and custom data center needs. QTS currently provides colocation supporting the Department of Defense at the Richmond Data Center.

To learn more about QTS’ Richmond Data Center and its security infrastructure, click here. For an industry perspective on data center security in relation to sensitive government data and counterterrorism, click here to read a whitepaper written by Rick Henson, vice president, security operations – QTS.